Janus/The Swimmer

What is the symbolic meaning of the bowl in “Janus?”

The bowl in “Janus” symbolizes Andrea’s past life, the one she had to move on and leave behind. The foot note explains that the title Janus is “usually artistically represented as a figure with two faces, looking in opposite direction (87).  Andrea wanted to keep both her lover and her husband, she didn’t want to have to choose. So both her “faces” were looking in opposite directions. On page 90 when describing how her lover felt, the lover said “she was always too slow to know what she really loved.” I think that this statement shows that Andrea finally is realizing what she missed out on. She completely adores this bowl and even feels “guilty that she had such a constant secret” (89). The bowl represents her life and her lover. She treats the bowl like a secret, a lover of some sort. I think she uses the bowl to fill the void of her past lover that left her when she wouldn't choose. Andrea dreamed of the bowl, kept it a secret, and it was basically her number one priority. She treated it very carefully, "would remove all the other objects from a table." (89). I think the bowl ultimately symbolizes the affair and her guilt and love she had for the man that left.

What is the symbolic meaning of Neddy’s journey?

Neddy’s journey symbolizes his lifetime. In the beginning of this story he has “the especial slenderness of youth” and even slid down his banister that morning. This is to suggest the beginning of life when a person is youthful and full of life. He swims throughout the first few pools feeling energetic and ready to continue onto the next leg of his journey. He feels the warmth of the sun and wants to keep on. After the storm hits however he starts feeling chilled to the bone, and feel lonely. Soon after he becomes frail, not diving into pools anymore and climbing out of the pools using the ladders. I think the storm may represent a hardship in his life, maybe the affair he had with Shirley and his wife finding out. This event would cause him to be alone as he wife would leave him. By the end of the journey, Ned didn’t think he could make it across the street to his house. This shows the journey of life that life will take you through so many trials and there will be happy and depressing times and that one wrong decision can turn your life upside-down such as Neddy’s affair. In the beginning of the story he was extremely happy and eating lunch with his daughters, but by the end he went to his house it was empty, his kids and wife left, leaving him feeling completely empty and disheartened.